Snap switch



July 29, 1930. C. M PETERSEN 1,771,498

SNAP SWITCH Filed June 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllllllll/ll July 29, 1930. c. M. PETERSEN SNAP SWITCH Filed June 20, 1929 2 Sheelzs-Sheel 2 7. n rlf Alllrfrrl.. di. 7,

Patented July 29,1930

' UNITEDYSTATES PATENT OFFICE CARL I. PETEB'SEN, 0l' TBENTON, NEW JERSEY, ABSIGNOB T0 CIRCLE I'. MFG. C0.,

0F TBENTON, NEW JERSEY, .L CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY slur swrrcn application sied rue ao, iaaa. sensi no. $72,412.

' This invention relates to snap switches of the flush or wall type, and has in view, asa

minimum number o parts which are cheap and easy to make, and especially adapted for rapid and economical assembl all with a view to providing a switch whic is of strong and durable construction and of low production cost.

With the fore ing and general object in` view, the invention consists in the various Vpresent snap switch structure which is adapted to have aface plate detachably connected therewith, the face plate in this view being removed. v p

jFig.` 2 is a rear elevation of the switch structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a lon 'tudmal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 s owing the manner of conn ecting the face plate with the switch housin l iig. 4is a rear elevation of the switch housing with the rear cover and the switch mechanism removed therefrom, the relation of the switch frame to said housin in the assembly ofthe device being indicate by dotted lines.

l Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing one of the terminal contact members assembled with the housl 6` is a tramverse section on the line 6-.6 of Fig. 3. 4

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the terminal contact members.

Fig. 8 is va vviewsimilar to Fig. 3 of a form .of the invention in 'which the 'face 'permanently assembled with the swi hausmay switch of compact form embodying a late is Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 isa perspective view looking towards the rear of the switch structure shown in Fi 8 and 9.

' 'Re erring to both embodiments of the prei sent invention herein illustrated, it will be observed that the device includes in its general organization a switch housing A., a switch mechanism designated generally at' B, and a face plate C.

.The switch housing A, which may be formed from any suitable material, into any desired size and shape, preferabl is molded from insuluating material into t e box-like form shown, same being inclusive of side and end walls 10 and 11, respectively, and a front Wall 12 provided with an openin 13 for the accommodation of the handle o the switch mechanism B which latter is adapted for insertion into housing through the open rear thereof.

a' To either side of the opening 13 the inner face of the front wall 12 of the housing A is recessed as indicated at 14, while formed in the end walls 11 thereof, are s ots 15 which open through the rear faces of said side walls. In addition, the end walls 11 are centrally recessed as indicated at 16 and said walls preferably, but not necessarily, are provided with integral, inwardly directed ribs 17 extending from the bottoms of the recesses 16 any able distance towards the front wall 12, preferably entirely to said front wall.

Embedded during molding of the housing A in the end walls 11 thereof where said walls are reinforced by the ribs 17 are rivet inserts 18 which beyond the rear ace of the housing andwhich are surroimded by rearwardly projecting insulating `formations 19 integral with the .Adv 5. f The switch mechanism B, whichmay be of any preferred ty is inclusive in the present y instance'of side aine members 19 joined together by bridge pieces '20, the switch mechanism properbeingcarried by saidy frame members and being mclusive of contact arms ,21

at thesides` of said frame suitroject a suitable distanceA the s ide walls 10 of said housin ,near one of u and adapted to be swung into and from engagement with complemental stationary contacts by rocking movement of a handle 22 in a manner which is well known and thoroughly understood by those skilled in the art.

In the assembled relation of the switch mechanism B with the housing A, the bridge pieces 20 which are apertured to receive the formations 19, are engaged over said formations and seated in the recesses 16 whereby their faces are disposed flush or substantially flush with the rear face of the housing. At the same time front portions of said frame members are engaged in the recesses 14, whereby the switch mechanism is held firmly at its front as well as 'at its rear against any lateral movement within the housing A.

When the switch mechanism B is positioned within the housing A as stated, the contact arms 21 are disposed, respectively, for movementin planes parallel and closely adjacent to the inner faces of the side walls is bent into 1() of the housing, Athese arms thus being adapted for cooperation with stationary contacts 25 disposed against the inner faces of said side walls 10.

Referring now to Fig. 7 of the drawings, it will be observed that the stationary switch contacts 25 in accordance with the present invention are formed in one piece with their related line wire binding plates 26. In other words, a sheet metal stamping of proper shape U-shape to provide a pair of spaced legs,these legs constituting, respectively, a switch contact 25 anda binding plate 26, the binding plate leg having a binding screw 27 threaded therein and the switchcon tact leg being apertured for the accommodation of said Screw. These .combined switch contact and binding plate elements are adapted to straddle the side Walls of the housing A as shown, the switch contacts 25 lying against the inner faces of said side walls in position to be engaged by the switch arms 21 andthe binding plates 26 lying against the outer face of said walls, the slots 15 being provi ded 'for the accommodation of the screws 27 and serving in conjunction with said screws to preventmovement of said contact and bindingplate elements along the walls 10` in which connection it thatistraight edge portions 28 of the contacts 25=engage the adjacent end wall of the housngxA whereby :saidcontact elements are held against-turning lmovement relative to the housing. v

With the switch mechanism placed as afore said: in said housing-,andwith-the switch contact' and. binding' plate elements assembled with the 'sidewalls'thereof, a sheet or sheets ofginsulati'on 29 apertured to receive the rivet inserts 18;,1is lor are' engaged .over -said inserts in closing relation to' therear face of the housing and .av metalf strip" 30, apertured to receive said rivet inserts. then is engaged over will be observed'.

the latter and against the insulation 29, said inserts finally being headedlover as indicated at 31 to secure all of said parts in rigid assembly with one another.

The strip 30, which in general design is of U-shape, is inclusive of portions 32 lying against the ends 'of the housing A, these portions terminating in outwardly directed arms 33 which arms, of the invention shown in Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, are apertured as at 34 for the accommodation of screws 35 for securing the device within an outlet box 36. In addition, said arms are formed with threaded openings 37 to receive screws 38 by which the face plate C is detachably connected with the device. On the other hand, according to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the arms 3311 are of short length and formed only with apertures 40 to receive rivet inserts 41 which are molded into the face plate, these rivet inserts being headed over against the rear faces of the arms 33'* whereby the face plate is permanently assembled with the other pfutions of thel device. The face plate C in this instance iS formed with openings 34 for tht accommodation of screws 35 for securing the device to the outlet box. Furthei'mord in this embodiment of the invention, the rivet inserts 18 are eliminated, the end walls ofthe housing A being formed only with projections 19"L which enter holes in the insulation 29A and the strap 30a to hold said insulation and said strap against lateral movement relative to the housing.

lVithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, pro-v portion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spiiit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: y i

1. In a device of the class described, a switch housing of molded insulating material open at its rear for the insertion of a switch mechanism, projections integral with said body at the rear thereof, the frame of said switch mechanism having openings receiving said projections whereby the switch mechanism is held against lateral movement relative to the body, and means covering the rear face of said body and retaining the switch frame engaged with said projections.

2. In a device of the class described, a switch housing of molded insulating material open at its rear for the insertion of a switch mechanism, a switch mechanism within said housing, a U-shaped member straddling a wall of sa'id housing providing a stationary switch Contact within the housing lying against the inner face of said wall and according to the embodimentv lll).

a line wire terminal outside of said housing lying against the outer face of said wall, and means covering therear face of said housing and retaining said switch mechanism and saidV terminal contact member in assembly with said housing.

3. In a device of the class described,y a

switch housing of molded insulating material open at its rear for the insertion of a switch mechanism, rivet inserts molded into said housing and including portions projecting inwardly from said housing, integral formations on said housing projecting rearwardly therefrom and surrounding said rivet inserts, a switch mechanism within said housing inclusive of a frame having openings receiving said integral housing formations, and

a cover for the rear of said housing provided witli openings receiving said rivet inserts, said rivet inserts being headed over rearwardly of said cover to secure the latter and the switch mechanism in assembly with the housin 4. In a vice of the class described, a face plate provided with rearward rivet projections, a switch housing disposed against the rear face of said face plate, a switch within said housing, and a strap extending across the rear of said housing and secured by said rivet projectionsto said face plate-whereby the latter is permanently assembled with said housing and whereby the switch mechanism is retained within said housing.

5. In a device of the class described, a face plate, a switch housing disposed against the rear face of said face plate and open at its rear for the insertion of a switchmechanism, a switch mechanism disposed within said housing, and a strap extending across the rear of said housing and permanently connected with said face plate. e J

6. In a device of the class described, a switch housing of molded insulating material open at its rear for the insertion of a switch mechanism, projections at the rear of said housing engaging thev frame of said switch mechanism to prevent lateral movement thereof, means covering the rear face of said housing retaining the switch frame engaged by said projections, and means forfastening said covering means to the hous' in v g. In a device of the class described, a

switchhousing of molded insulating mate- I rial Iopen at its rear for the insertion of a switch mechanism, a switch mechanism within said housing, projections at the rear of said housing engaging the frameV of vsaid switch mechanism to prevent lateral movement thereof, means covering the rear of said housing to retain said switch mechanism, and means molded into said housing for retaining said covering means in covering relation to the rear face of the housing.

8.' In a device of the class described, a

contacts and sai housing molded from insulating switch mechanism within said ousing, stationary contacts within said housing cooperating with said switch mechanism, means underlying said housing for retaining said stationary contacts in assembly with the housing, and means for y:fastening said contact retaining means to said housing.

9. In a snap switch, a molded insulating housing recessed from its rear face for the insertion of a switch mechanism and stationary contacts, retaining means underlying said body for retaining said switch parts in said recess, and common means for fastening said retaining means and said switch mechanism to said housing.

10. In a snap switch, a switch housing, a face plate, a switch mechanism and stationary contacts disposed wthin saidl housing, common means for securing said face plate, switch housin and stationary contacts in assembled relation, relative to each other, and means for fastening said face plate to an outlet box.

11. In a device of. the class described, a switch housing and aface plate, a switch mechanism and stationary contacts within said body, a stra retaining said stationary switch mechnism within said body, means fastenin said strap to said face plate, and means for astening said face plate to an outlet box. i

12. In'a device of the class described, a switch housing of molded insulating material open at its rear, a U-shaped member straddling a wall of said housing providing a stationary switch contact within the housing lying against the inner face of said wall and a linewire terminal outside of said housing lying against the outer'face of said wall, and means covering the rear face of said housin and retaining said terminal contact mem er in assembly with said housrear face of said face Plate and open at its rear for the insertion o a switch mechanism,

fa switch mechanism within said housin and a'strap extending across the rear o said housing and connected with said face plate. In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix. my

signature.

' CARL M. PETERSEN.

material, a 

